No contamination of ground water in Jahaz area of Rajasthan due to activities of AMD, DAE

The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) places on record that the reports on water contamination, carried by certain section of print media, due to the activities of Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD) are untrue and lack scientific basis.

Exploration for uranium is being carried out in Jahaz-Maota area, Jhunjhunu district, Rajasthan by AMD, a constituent unit of DAE. So far, AMD has drilled 113 inclined boreholes (60-100 mm dia.), varying in depth from 212 – 780 m. These boreholes have been drilled to take out core samples from desired depths for laboratory investigations purposes only.

There is no contamination of ground water in Jahaz area due to drilling of boreholes by AMD as no harmful chemicals are used for this purpose. As practiced in all diamond drilling operations, only water and small amount of lubricant are used by AMD in its drilling activities. Since harmful chemicals are not used, reports of spoiling of farms and spread of diseases in the area are contrived and absolutely baseless.

Further, AMD does not exploit ground water from these boreholes and hence sinking of water table cannot be attributed to drilling operations of AMD. The boreholes are closed and sealed permanently after completion and the land around the borehole sites is returned to original condition.